CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2828, 18 August 1866, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The adjourned monthly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon, at the Council Chamber, Fort-street. Present: —Messrs. J. A. Gilfillan (Chairman), C. A. Harris, J. McU. Clark, R. Lusk, S. Woolley, J. T. Garlick, M. Somerville, W. Grahaine, T. Macfarlane, and Captain Eattray. The Secretary read the minutes of the previous day's meeting, which were confirmed.

PRESENTATION OP BOOKS. The Secretary said, before they commenced the business of the meeting, he wished to call their attention to a present which Mr. Turton had made of fire volumes of MaGgregor's Commercial Statistics. The Chairman said they were no doubt all very thankful to Mr. Turton for his valuable donation to the library of the Chamber.

STEAM POSTAL SERVICE. Mr. Harris said the resolution he had to propose was as follows: — '* That, in the opinion of this Chamber, the English mails, via Suez, for this province should be sent direct from Melbourne to the Manukau, and the mails for England, vifl, Suez, should be sent from the Manukau direct to Melbourne; thus allowing to this province the same advantage as that enjoyed by the provinces of Otago, Southland, and Canterbury, namely, a four months' course of poit with England, via Suez." He might mention that after looking into the matter that morning, he found that it would be scarcely any better for them to have their mail letters sent from Melbourne via Duuedin. It would still amount to the same thing j it would be no relief, as they should still have a five months' course of post. But by the proposed plan, taking the arrival of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's vessel on the 12th of the month, the steamer might arrive very well in the Manukau on the 18th. if she left again on the 23rd she would arrive at Melbourne on the 29th, and the P. and O. boat does not leave until the 30th. Then, between the 12th and the 30th of the month they had 18 days for the steamer to run between Melbourne and the Manukau and back. So far as he could find out, the distance between Melbourne and the Manukau was, in round numbers, 1,400 miles. One] account made it 1,416, and another 1,380 milea. Therefore, for all practical purposes, 1,400 miles would be about the distance. If they took the passage at six days, that would give about 233 miles per day ; and at seven days it would be 200 miles per day. Taking the latter slow rate, they should still have three days for the vessel to remain in the Manukau. For instance, that day "beiug the 17th, the next day, being the 18th, would be the day on which the steamer would arrive by the proposed plan. bhe should leave again on the 23rd, and their letters would be in London on the 12th October. Under the existing plan they would not receive their mails until the 24th, and they would then have to 12bh September to answer their letters, and the mail would not be in London until the 12th November. Of course, if they adopted the plan he proposed, he would give up the Sydney boat altogether. He might mention that the Panama Company had three boats, the 'Tararua,"Rangitoto,' and • Otago,' running without a subsidy ; and, as there was no mail depending upon the Sydney and Auckland boat, they were considerately allowed, the services of the old collier called the • Auckland.' Those were about the facts of the matter, and he begged to move the adoption of the resolution be had read. There was one thing he woald like to mention. The ordinary revenue of New Zealand was put down as about £1,000,000, of which £200,000 was raised by Auckland. The Postmaster-General wanted £155,000 for postal services j thus the province of Auckland paid £31,000 per annum towards that sum. Certainly he (Mr. H.) thought they were not asking too much for direct communication between Melbourne and the Manukau, which would give them a four months' course of post instead of a five months' course, which they had at present. The Chairman said the resolution was one well worthy of consideration, and he should have liked to

f have seen a full meeting of the Chamber to discuss the question. j Mr. Clark said he was uu prepared to give an opiuion upon the question, seeing that it was eutirely changed from the resolution of which the mover had given notice ; but for the purpose of preventing it from dropping he begged to second the resolution proposed pro forma. Mr. Woollet said the chairman should know whether it was allowable for a gentleman to bring forward a motion, and have a meeting called for its consideration, and then to bring forward an amended one. Seeing the small number of members present, he thought the motion, as amended, might be printed and circulated among the members of the Chamber, and a special meeting called in a week or so to consider it. Jf the reiolution were printed the members would think more about it, because such a long time had elapsed between the notioe given of the first resolution and the amended one proposed, that they had, perhaps, forgotten it. That was the only way he could account for such a small meeting. He would move the adjournment of the meeting until Tuesday next, and that the Secretary should be instructed to have circulars printed, embodying Mr. Harris's resolution for circulation, and the remarks thereon, among the members. Mr. Lusk seconded the motion, which was carried. LOCAL SHIPPING COMPANY. Mr. Lusk asked if there was any subject to be brought forward at the next monthly meeting. The Chairman replied in the negative. Mr. Lusk Baid there Bhould be some subject brought before them at those monthly meetings. If members attending found there was nothing to be done, they would # not care to attend again when their time was valuable. He did not kuow whether he would be out of order in giving notice of a subject for consideration. The Chairman said he (Mr. Lusk) would be in order in giving notice of motion for next monthly meeting. Mr. Lusk said there was a subject which he thought would be worthy of the consideration of the Auckland merchants, and especially of the Chamber of Commerce. He did not kuow when the time might arrive for bringing it forward, but he observed that lately there had been some notice taken j of the matter in the Daily Soothern Ckoss. Some of those persons who were observing the signs of the- times considered that the period had arrived when the matter should be brought under consideration. In the event of no one else taking the matter up, he thought they might with propriety bring it forward, in order that it might be at least ventilated, at their next general meeting. He would, therefore, give the following notice of motion : — "1. That in the opinion of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce it would be for the advantage of the province generally, and of the mercantile community of this city in particular, that the carrying trade between Great Britain and Auckland should be performed by a line of vessels owned by a local company; and 2. That so "soon as K ihe present depression in the local money market ceases, steps should be taken to ascertain whether the Auckland importers generally will join in the formation of a joint stock company for the performance of iuch carrying trade." There being no other business before the Chamber, the meeting separated.